In this emotionally charged and deeply practical episode of Dear Divorce Diary, Darren Mort and Joplin Higgins tackle one of the most heartbreaking and legally complex issues in family law: relocation after separation.
What happens when one parent wants to move interstate… or overseas… with the children?
Can the court stop a parent from leaving Australia?
Does a mother or father have the “right” to move home?
What happens when children are caught between two countries, two cultures, and two parents who both love them?
Through a powerful role-play scenario involving a separated Australian-Norwegian family, Darren and Joplin unpack exactly how relocation disputes unfold inside the Family Court — from emotional arguments and legal strategy to parenting proposals and the harsh reality of what judges actually look for.
This episode explores the devastating emotional impact relocation cases can have on families, while giving listeners a rare behind-the-scenes look at how these cases are argued, assessed, and ultimately decided.
Darren and Joplin explore what happens when one parent wants to relocate internationally with children following separation — particularly where one parent feels isolated, unsupported, or desperately wants to return to family overseas.
The episode examines:
Through an emotionally realistic mock separation between “Svetlana” and her Australian husband, the episode demonstrates:
The fictional scenario highlights issues including:
Darren and Joplin explain that relocation cases are not about “winning” as a parent — they are about what is in the best interests of the children.
Key considerations include:
The episode discusses:
Listeners gain insight into how quickly relocation matters can escalate once one parent fears the children may leave the country.
Darren and Joplin discuss how modern communication tools like:
have changed the way courts assess international parenting arrangements.
But they also explain the harsh truth:
Technology can help maintain relationships — but it can never fully replace physical parenting time.
One of the strongest themes throughout the episode is this:
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","author_name":"Darren Mort-Family Law Barrister & Joplin Higgins-Family Law Solicitor"}